schneider



(No Model.) -3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. SCHNEIDER. REGOIL CHECK FOR HEAVY ORDNANGE.

No. 442,919. Patented Dec. 16, 1890,

WEITW5 THE raoRms PETERS no. PnnYn-urHm, wAsHmcroN, n, c.

2 t e e h S W e e h S 3 REGOIL CHECK FOR HEAVY ORDNANGE. No. 442,919.

Patented Dec. 16, 1890.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

H. SCHNEIDER. REGOIL 0111101: FOR HEAVY ORDNANGE. No. 442,919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRI SCHNEIDER, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

RECOIL-CHECK FOR HEAVY ORDNANCE,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,919, dated December16, 1890.

Application filed June 17, 1890. Serial No. 355,797. (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRI SCHNEIDER, manager of the firm Schneider do00., manufacturers, of Le Oreuzot, (Saone-et-Loire,) in the Republic ofFrance, have invented Improvements in Apparatus for Minimizing theRecoil in Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel system of hydraulic brakes which maybe termed twin hydraulic brakes and its object is to reduce the recoilof guns, to suppress the percussive action, and to distribute theeffects of the firing over a larger number of points. The recoil isconsiderably reduced by the use of four strong brakes arranged in amanner peculiar to this system and which transmit to four points on thebody of the carriage the force of the recoil. The axes of these brakesand the axis of the gun are in the same plane and move in the samemanner while the piece is being pointed. Therefore the gun alwaysrecoils in the direction of its axis, it does not produce anypercussion, and the eifects of the firing are directly absorbed by thebrakes.

In order to better understand the system of twin hydraulic brakes andthe different applications of which it is susceptible, reference shouldbe made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, Sheet 1, showsa longitudinal sec tion, Fig. 2 a horizontal section, and Fig. 3 avertical section, of the system of brakes. Figs. 4 and 5 show theinvention as applied to a turret and Fig. 6 to the deck of a vessel.Figs. 7 and 8 show one form, and Fig. 9 an other form, of mounting forthe gun.

The apparatus consists, essentially, of two slides, in which the gun ismounted and in which are formed the cylinders A A of the brakes. Theslides work in guides forming part of the cradle or, properly speaking,frame E, which is fixed when firing. To the cradle E are secured therods 0 O of the brakes, as will be hereinafter described. The two slides.are arranged synnnetrically with respect to cafe with each other bypassages a a a, made in the thickness of the metal, and the cylindersreceive pistons B B, the rods 0 G of which are firmly secured to thecross-heads D D, which form part of the frame E. The cylinders areprovided with the requisite amount of liquid.

When the gun is fired, it will in its backward movement or recoil carrywith it the slides, or rather the cylinders, of the brakes. The pistonsB B will remain stationary, being secured to the frame E, and the'liquidwhich is in front of each of the pistons is violently driven out andpasses to the back of the said pistons by conveniently-arranged passagesF. These passages F, as shown on the drawings, take the form of groovesin the walls of the cylinders. It is really suflicient for the action ofthe brake that the total section of the passages F should be such thatall the force due to the recoil should be absorbed by the forcedexpulsion of the liquid. During the recoil the void formed in theforward cylinder A by reason of the exit of the rod 0 is constantlyfilled by an equal quantity of liquid driven out by the rod 0', which,on the contrary, enters its cylinder A, the escape of the liquid beingeffected by the above-mentioned passages a a a. In this manner thebrake-cylinders are at all times quite full, the loss from one beingcompensated for by the overflow of the other.

The brakes are thus under constant pressure,

which is absolutely necessary for insuring a regular and unvaryingrecoil and without shock.

H is a cross-head secured on the gun and connected by rods J with theslides A A. Carried by threaded sockets which work in the cross-head IIare rods, on which springs G are mounted. These springs bear against thecross-heads D and are compressed during the recoil. The pressure ofthese springs at the end of the recoil movement serves to return thebrakes and the gun to their normal position. During this returnmovement. the rods of the forward pistons B slide in their respectivecylinders A, driving out an equal volume of liquid, which passes by thepassages a a a and exactly fills the void caused by the outward movementof the rods of the rearward pistons 13. Elastic buffers 25 limit thetravel of the of the recoil being much reduced by using brakes of smalldimensions, which are at the same time very powerful.

the system.

Figs. 4 and 5; Sheet II, show the invention as applied to a turret. Inthis example the slides or brake-cylinders AA are arranged as'in SheetI. They slide inside the frame E,

gallery or casemate. frame are arranged as in the turret-carriage;

n to which are attached the brake piston-rods C 0'. The frame transmitsthe impetus it receives from the rods 0 O to two standards I, firmlysecured to the turret. To this end the iralne is furnished withprojecting sides E, which slide in suitable grooves formed in thestandards I.

Fig.6, Sheet II, shows the invention as applied to the main-deck of avessel or in a The brakes and the but the standards I are tied togetherat their upper part and are secured at bottom toa bed K. This bed,furnished with rollers, is fitted to circular ways secured on the deckor floor. In these carriages the percussive effects are suppressed, andthe recoil being absorbed by the brakes has a tendency to overthrow thecarriage. This is, however, averted'by the resistance of the hook m,which takes under a flange in the circular way. vTo facilitate themovement of the gun to obtain the proper elevation, the gun with thebrake mechanism may be balanced by means of a counter-weight.

Figs. 7 and 8, Sheet II, show a carriage in which the brakes arearranged in the same This division of the effects of firing permits ofthelength This'being'established, it is now desirable, by Way ofexamp'le, to illustrate thevarious applications of manner, but. theframe. E:is provided with trunnions, and the carriage ,is mounted on acentral pivot.

Fig. 9, Sheet II, shows another type of carriage. The twin brakes arestill arranged in the same manner; but the frame is replaced by two sidepieces L L, forming guides and oscillating on pivots O,- situatedforward of the arrangement.

All these"severally-detailed arrangements may be modified both in detailand action, the onlyobject for thus illustrating them being to show thevariety of applications of which the twin hydraulic brakes aresusceptible.

Having now particularly described and as-- certained the nature of mysaid invention and in what manner the same is to be per-' formed, Iwould remark thatI reserve to my-' self the right of applying thissystemi'to anyf carriage whatsoever, and also of varying at will thematerial proportions and dimensions, 'as well as accessory arrangements;and

I declare'that what I claim is- 1. Hydraulic brakes consisting of twoslides in which the gun is mounted, each composed of two brake-cylinderscommunicating with each other at their rear ends,aframe serving as aguide to the said slides, pistons in the. cylinders, and piston-rodsfirmly secured to the said frame for the purpose of reducing. by asimultaneous action the recoil of gunsand transmitting the firing strainto four; points of the'carriage while. neutralizing the percussiveaction, substantially as described.

frame, return-action springs G, and. elastic bufferst, which limit thetravel of the slides in each direction, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed "my name to this specification inthe' presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRI ,sorrn-EiDnR-f -Witnesses: 1 R. J. PRESTON; CHARLES BRfiNoN.

